Ottawa won’t scrap chopper purchase

OTTAWA— The federal government has decided not to scrap its troubled purchase of CH-148 Cyclone helicopters.

Instead, Ottawa will go ahead with its plan to acquire maritime choppers to replace the decades-old CH-124 Sea Kings, which it will start retiring next year.

The plan to replace the 50-year-old Sea Kings — which fly from the decks of Canadian warships — is years behind schedule, billions of dollars over budget and apparently beset with technical glitches.

Earlier this fall, the Public Works Department indicated it was looking at other aircraft because Cyclone manufacturer Sikorsky had delivered just four test aircraft, which National Defence has refused to formally accept.

Public Works had previously asked for an independent analysis of whether Sikorsky could deliver what it promised. The government says the report found the program to replace the Sea Kings “would be viable with a different project structure and governance model.”

A news release issued late on Friday afternoon says the air force will have fully capable Cyclone helicopters by 2018.

Public Works Minister Diane Finley said in a release that Sikorsky has agreed to deliver the new helicopters without any additional cost to the federal government.

No government officials or department spokespersons were available Friday to answer questions about the announcement.